Agenda item

Planning permission granted as recommended subject to inclusion of requirement to prevent occupants from applying for a car parking permit.

PROPOSAL:

Demolition of existing office building and erection of a seven storey building comprising 25 residential apartments (11 x 1-bed, 13 x 2-bed and 1 x 3-bed) and 383sqm of retail floor space on the ground floor with associated cycle parking, first floor rear communal roof terrace and associated landscaping.

RECOMMENDATION:

Grant planning permission subject to the completion of a satisfactory Section 106 or other legal agreement and delegate authority to the Head of Area Planning or other duly authorised person to agree the exact terms thereof on advice from the Director of Legal and Procurement.

With reference to the tabled supplementary report, the Head of Area Planning discussed the temporary leases to a community group for the period ending July 2013 which allowed for a short term use of the building for community benefit. He informed Members about the applicant’s concern that future use of the building as temporary offices could prejudice otherwise acceptable uses.  In response to further comments from an objector on the scale of the building, Members heard that whilst it would be taller than the surrounding development, its scale was considered to be appropriate to its location within a town centre.  He continued that a legal agreement would restrict access by prospective residents to parking permits as the development was in an area with good public transport accessibility. In respect of the quality of materials he stated that officers had sought amended plans to improve the views of the building from Walm Lane and had advised the applicants that high quality materials would be required to ensure that the development made a positive contribution to the Conservation Area, a requirement that would be achieved via condition 26.   Finally, he clarified that the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) for the proposed development as follows; Brent’s CIL would be £348,563.95, although the developers would be able to apply for affordable housing relief. The Mayoral CIL would be £11,129.06.

Ms Sally Buchanan, an objector, stated that whilst she was grateful to Network Housing for allowing community uses of the building, she wondered whether the Mayor of London had been consulted on the proposed demolition of the building.  She also wondered whether Network Housing had explored alternative uses of the building and also whether twenty-five flats would adequately compensate for the loss of a building of such considerable merit.

Mr Mark Connell, the applicant’s agent, stated that the proposed development of the redundant building would deliver a wider public realm development with 100% affordable housing.  He added that the development complied with density, amenity space and lifestyle home requirements.  In response to a Member’s question whether Network Housing would consider community uses if the spaces were not taken up in full, Mr Connell stated that considerable retail interest in the building had already been expressed and that to allow temporary community uses would raise viability issues.

The Head of area Planning, Stephen Weeks, confirmed that the scheme would be permit free and that there was no statutory requirement to refer the application to the Mayor of London. 

DECISION: Planning permission granted as recommended subject to inclusion of requirement to prevent occupants from applying for a car parking permit.